The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-05-07
WHAT WAS HE?
A Doubt as to the Honesty Of Lit
tie Filippo.

We had Just arrived in Rome. 1t
was ten o'clock at night, the rain was
coming down through the darkness
with gentle persistence, and Aunt Bet
sey and felt bit homesick when we
walked out of the station and looked
about for somebody to carry our
satchels. There were cabs about, but
amt is ''frugally inclined" and as the
rooms we had engaged were only two
blocks down the broad Via Nazionale,
we had no thought more extravaganza
than of engaging a five. cent porter, for
our bags were too heavy to carry while
holding our umbrellas open.
But, owing to the lateness of the
hour, or some other cause, the usual
crowd of official loiterers was absent,
and we stood under the doorway peer
ing into the night, feeling more forlorn
every second, and conscious of sur
prisingly little interest in the Baths of
Diocletian, whose crumbling arches
were dimly visible through the rain.
Suddenly there appeared before us
scrap of humanity, who laid tiny
brown hand on my valise, and proffer-
ed his services.
We could not understand what he
said, but pantomime is the universal
language, and we knew perfectly we'll
what he meant.
Aunt Betsey said she thought he was
too small. The tortures which she in
ficted on the Italian language were
worthy only of the Inquisition, but our
little friend either anticipated the re-
mark, or had precocious intelligence,
for he vociferated an eager negative,
and, extending small arm, begged us
to feel of his muscle, repeating "Forte,
signora" with such honest and manly
earnestness that Aunt Betsey's heart
warmed, and she said: "Wen, all right!
Come along! 1t isn't very far, and
there doesn't seem to be anybody else. "
Her tongue was foreign, but not her
expression. He seized a valise with
each hand and trotted off, looking abb
surdly like one of the tiny donkeys
with tremendous paniers, which we
often saw,
ASK him how much?" whispered,
our one invariable rule being to make
bargain beforehand.
"Stop!" said Aunt Betsey, impcri.
ously. "Quanto costa?
His reply was full of sweet humility
"Any thing the signora pleascs."
He led the way, and we followed I'M
der our umbrellas; peeped from I'm.
der, but saw nothing on either side but
tall modern-built houses and most pro
sale shops,
was disappointed; had expected
to be thrilled; every one had ever
read about was thrilled at the frs
glimpse of the Eternal City; Twas sure
there had been great deception some
where, and l felt aggrieved.
To be sure, it was like dream fo
me to be in Rome at all; me, Lily Am
Schocken, whose washed hair-ribbon
and patched shoes made me looked
down upon at school by Dollie Englisl
and her set; excluded from their par
ties, and cut at the Sunday-schoo
picnic.
The whole thing had been so suddel
that left home in a whirl of excite
ment, which was only quenched by sea
sickness.
Mother was braiding my hair on
morning-it was dreadfully snarly, ant
Twas making a good deal of fuss, whel
Aunt Betsey, who called about once
year, popped her head in at the door
and said "rm going to Europe agail
next week, and if you like, I'll TAX
Lily Ann along"
/ screamed and mother dropped til
comb.
"If you're going to act like that, 20